A group, which claimed to be Niger Delta Agitators, were on Thursday beaten blue-black at the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Abuja and later arrested by security operatives.
The Tabloid.net gathered that the protesters had allegedly been mobilized from Gwagalada to carry a mock coffin over what they called the ministry’s failure to inaugurate the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board.
On sight of a team of Ijaw youths at the ministry, the protesters took to their heals while the unlucky among them were handed over to the Divisional Police Officer, Ministry of Niger Delta, Abdulahi Abubakar, who confirmed the development.
A Niger Delta interest group leader, Comrade Kiriye Sylva, warned non Niger Deltans to stop using their names and associations to perpetuate crisis aimed at extorting money from public officers-in-charge of the ministry, saying, “real Niger Deltans will not go about with mock coffins simply because they want their grievances to be addressed.”
“Let me warn all those using our names to stage protests for monetary gains to desist from this act forthwith. We will deal decisively with anybody or group of individuals, who are out to tarnish the good image of Niger Deltans.”
According to Sylva, “information made available to us reveals that the hoodlums were mobilized from the outskirts of Abuja, given stipends to come down here to embarrass our leaders. We will not fold our arm and watch them use our names to commit havoc, all in the name of protests. These were not Niger Deltans at all and we know why they are doing all these,” he stated.
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